Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-01-10
SMITH AND ROBERTSON.
THE LEADERS IN THE POLITICAL
FIGHT IN INDIANA

Both Gentlemen Suggest Procedu res to
Settle the Difficulty and Each Ones
Plan Is "Pizeu'' to the Other Fellow
What Seems Probable at Latest Advices
A Split or Row.
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind, Jan. 10.-The Repub
lican senator's in caucus Saturday resolved to
stand by Lieutenant Governor Elect Robert
son in demanding the presidency of the SEN
ate Tuesday Smith says he will not yield,
and split or row is certain The probabilities
are that there will be no election for senator
nor any other joint legislative action taken.
In the event of an appointment, Governor
Gray will likely name Tucpie, but if an cleo
ton is reached the Democratic nominee will
probably be Holman Bynum, or Niblack.
The correspondent of The Chicago Times
telegraphs his paper as follows:
Senator Green Smith will wait day or
two longer for Col Robertson to begin quo
warranto proceedings. He will waive serv-
lea and all other legal formalities. and con-
sent to the entry pro forma by the circuit
court Of a decree against him and to an i'm
mediate hearing on appeal by the supreme
court, which under this arrangement could
render a decision within three or four days.
If Col Robertson declines TO seek this rem
ely Prosecuting Attorney Mitchell, of this
county, a Democrat will begin quo warranto
proceedings against Green Smith, as he
is authorized by the law in his official capac-
ity to do He will invite counsel for Col.
Robertson and the attorney general Of the
state to assist in the prosecution of the action,
but with or without their co operation it will
he pushed to Il decision in the manner above
deserted before the day fixed by law for the
houses to meet in joint session for the election
Of a senator. If the decision of this court is
adverse to Smith he will at once yield the
chair to Robertson. If it is in his favor he
will hold the fort and the Republicans, it is
believed, will feel themselves constrained to
acquesce.
Col Robertson was asked by The Times
, c 'rrespoldent what he had to say to the pro
position embodied in the above. We shall
pay no attention to any proposition made in
that FORM he said ''If Mr. Smith has any
proposition to make directly to us it will be
considered, but We can not recognize the au-
thority of the Judiciary to perform the func-
ton expressly conferred by the constitution
upon an Independent coordinate branch of
the government. The constitution and the
statutes made in conformity Herewith pro-
vide a method of determining the question of
my title to the lieutenant governor
ship. The constitution stipulates
that contested elections for governor or
Lieutenant governor shall be determined by
the general assembly in such manner as may
b. prescribed by law. Sections 4, 743 746
inclusive, revised statutes, 1881, provide
b4t ala ba al of
any person declared elected by popular vote
to any Office, whether state, county, town
ship, OF municipal The contestant shall
within twenty days after the first day of the
next session of the general assembly there
sfter file specifications Of the grounds Of
such contest, verified by affidavit, with the
speaker of the house. Each house is then t,
choose seven of its members, who are to con
s-itute a committee to try and determine the
matter. with power to send for persons AMI
papers Their judgment, as reported to the
two houses and entered upon their Journals
shall be final and ''if such election be Judged
invalid such Office shall be vacant II will
W. seem said Col Robertson, that the con
sttution and laws provide amply for the ex-
lsiun- emergency. 1t is the uniform prac-
ilrn III Indiana, as elsewhere, to give the per-
-nn declared elected TO any office his seat,
and the person challenging his title is obliged
to seek the remedy provi led by law This Is
tn, first case on record, ! believe in which
the person shown by the face of the returns
to have baen elected to any Office has been
kept out of tia position and invited to en-
force his rights by Judicial process. l am
entirely confident, however, that the conspir,
a,y VIII fail, and that a few days. or posi-
bly, a few hours will see mo in possession OF
the chair Of The senate